Slide device for dam flashboards



June 19, 1956 J. AUBERT sums DEVICE FOR DAM FLASHBOARDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 17, 952

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June 19, 1956 J. AUBERT 7 suns DEVICE FOR DAM FLASHBOARDS Filed Nov. 17,1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

INVENTOR JEAN AUBERT MWM ATTORNEYS June 19, 1956 J. AUBERT 2,750,747

SLIDE DEVICE FOR DAM FLASHBOARDS Filed NOV. 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3l/(YE'N TOR JEAN AUBERT ATTORNEYS June 19, 1956 J AUBERT 2,75%,747

SLIDE DEVICE FOR DAM FLASHBOARDS Filed Nov. 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVf/V TOR Jm/v AUBERT United States Fatent O SLIDE DEVICE FOR DAMFLASHBOARDS Jean Aubert, Paris, France Application November 17, 1952,Serial No. 320,885

Claims priority, application France December 20, 1951 3 Claims. (Cl.61-27) The invention relates to improvements to flashboards used onriver dams, and known as Aubert dashboards.

Such dams consist of a row of fiashboards H, perpendicular to thecurrent, known in itself, and shown in Fig. l with an old form of slide.Each of these flashboards is swivelled on a pivoting stand m, and as thepressure of water endeavors constantly to let it turn downstream, it isheld in position by a strut a which bears on their middle part, andterminated by a foot p provided with two parallel checks '1 and fa,separated by a hollow e. The foot p bears on a slide which essentiallycomprises a continuous rack provided with stop-notches, three in number,for example: 01, c2, 03. These notches are restricted by the teeth, d1,dz and d3.

The foot 2 is intended to straddle the rack c, the cheeks i1 and jzpreventing any lateral movement of the foot when the latter moves alongthe rack. The foot p can engage in the notches c1, c2 and 03, whichfixes three stop positions for the fiashboard, I, II, III, in which thenearest to the vertical is I.

If the flashboard is continued to be straightened beyond position I, thefoot p reaches a passing position designated by 0, where it is shiftedtowards the left (for an observer looking from tip-stream towardsdown-stream: in the direction of f). This lateral shifting of the footis achieved by an inclined plane which conducts it to the up-stream endof a trough g parallel to the rack c. To this end, the joint at k isprovided with sufficient play so that the strut can shift slightlylaterally. If the flashboard is then lowered, the foot p traverses thetrough g in the direction of the current (in the direction of fromup-stream towards down-stream).

The trough g inflects in the vicinity of the down-stream end, and thefoot penetrates into a kind of pit G, where it regains the axis of therack c.

In this position (position IV), the flashboard is completely down.

A slide device of this kind nevertheless has the following disadvantage:it is impossible to lower the flashboard directly in the direction offrom one notch to the next one (from position I to position III, forexample). To carry out such an operation it is actually necessary todescribe a kind of loop I-0IVIII, which involves a loss of time and anappreciable consumption of power. Likewise, to go from position III toposition IV, it is necessary to make the loop III-III0IV.

Furthermore, in spite of its weight, the foot p of the strut may, duringthese manoeuvres, be shifted to the left or to the right by the current.If it crosses the vertical side which-restricts the trough g, a divershelp will be necessary to put it back into the correct position.

The purpose of the present invention is to obviate these disadvantages,and it relates to an industrial product constituted by a slide whoseparticular shape enables the fiashboard to be more easily, morecertainly and more speedily moved.

The slide in accordance with the invention comprises a rack completed bysome shaped guiding surfaces. The

Fatented June 19, 1956 ice foot of the strut bears on the rack when theflashboard is fixed in one of the positions I, II or III. When thefiashboard is moved up or down, so as it passes from one of the abovecited positions to another one, the foot of the strut circulates eitheron the rack, or on the right, or on the left of it. In addition to thisgeneral up-stream or down-stream movement of the foot, which is due tothe rotation of the flashboard, the guiding surfaces impell to the samefoot small lateral or vertical displacements, whose purpose is to bringat last the said foot into the necessary position, so that thefiashboard may be stopped in the desired angular position.

Other features with regard to the shape and arrangement of the guidingsurfaces will also be described during the description which follows.

The attached drawings, in addition to Fig. I mentioned above, compriseFigures 2 to 9 regarding a particular form of embodiment of slideaccording to the invention, given by way of example, and without anyrestrictive character.

More precisely:

Fig. 2 is a view of the top of the slide.

Fig. 3 is lateral elevation view, for an observer situated to the rightof the slide, taken in the direction of the current (7 direction).

Fig. 4 is a lateral elevation view of the down-stream section of theslide, for an observer situated to the left of the latter.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the section, for an observer situatedtip-stream on its axis and looking downstream.

Fig. 6 is an elevation view of this section, for an observer situateddown-stream, looking up-stream.

Fig. 7 is a simplified diagram of the slide, seen from above, as in Fig.2.

The Figs. 8 (a, b, c) are sections along the lines Villa, VIIIb, andVIIIc of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the slide as seen from down-stream ofthe fiashboard.

The slide shown by way of example in Figs. 2 to 6 is made of twosections: an up-stream section Tm and a down-stream section Tv.

The Tm section comprises a main rib N1, parallel to the current,arranged in the symmetrical plane of the flashboard and provided withtwo teeth di and d2 (Figs. 2 and 3). The Tv section also comprises amain rib N2, in the extension of N1 and provided with a tooth d3. Theassembly of the teeth d1, d2 and d3 make the rack of the fiashboard. Inthe utilisation position, the flashboard is motionless and its foot p islocked by one of these teeth, the cheeks i1 and '2 of this foot beingarranged on either side of the main rib N1 or N2, which settles thestopping positions I, II or III of the flashboard, respectivelycorresponding to d1, d2 or d3. 7

The rib N1 of Tm is extended towards up-stream by a guiding surface S1situated on the left of Tm and substantially composed of an element of aplane steeply sloped to the right of Tm. After S1 is an inclined planeS2, sloping in the same direction as S1, but with a less stee slope. Atthe end of this plane are two vertical guiding panels S3 and S4, formingan obtuse angle, the panel S3 being placed at the right of Tm, that is,on the opposite side of S, with respect to the rack.

The surface S1 is shaped so as to push the foot p of the flashboard byskidding (when it is drawn towardsupstream from d1) to the right of N1.

If the foot p continues to be drawn up-stream, the panel S3 leads thatfoot towards S2 and allows it to pass over this From the downstream partof Tm, two other vertical panels S5 and S6 are placed, respectivelysituated to the answer right and left of N1. S is notched in accordancewith one part of an inclined plane S7, to permit the passage of thecheek ii of p when the latter is drawn towards d2, straddling Ni.

The section Tv is more complex than the Tm section. As alreadyexplained, it comprises a rib N2, separated from N1 by a certain spacei. The rib N2 is preceded, on tl e up-strearn side, by two associatedsurfaces shifted to the right; one S8, substantially dihedral andforming a rib, the bisector plane of which is vertical but oblique tothe rack and placed appreciably in the bisection of N1 and S5. S3 isintended to be forked by the foot p when it shifts towards down-stream.The outer surface B whose action on the foot p is described hereinafter,essentially comprises the planes Se and S10, both sloping to the left,the slope of S being greater than that of S9. The surface B is thusshaped for guiding the foot p towards (is by acting on J2, when p shiftstowards down-stream. The surfaces S8 and B are connected to N2 by a kindof dihedral S12, S13, convex upwards. The surface S12 is appreciablyhorizontal, and stopped at a certain height above the floor, as shown inFigs. 4 and 5, whereas the surface S13 descends to the floor level (Fig.6).

The terminal part of N2 descends in an easy slope into the pit G, flaredfrom up-stream towards down-stream and intended to accommodate the foot12 when the flashboard is lowered, even if this foot is appreciablycarried along laterally by the current. This pit, of which only a partis shown, is symmetrical in relation to the axis of the ribs N1 and N2.

The movements of the foot p on the slide during the movements of thedashboard can be more easily followed in Fig. 7, where the guidingsurfaces are systematised and shown by the plane elements.

The dashboard is presumed originally to be in the down position(position IV, foot p in the pit G). The dotted line shows the track ofone point of the cheek ii of p. The flashboard being pulled towardsup-stream, p whatever its original position in G, is guided by theoblique walls of the latter, so that it forks N2 and traverses it to daalong the track IVIIII. The tooth a's fixes the position 111 for thefiashboard and foot. The flashboard being thus drawn again tip-stream(line liI2-3), jz comes into contact with S13, then S12, and falls onthe floor, escaping from S12. At this moment, i1 is at 3 and there isthe option:

Either to take the flashboard to IV and allowing it to slopedown-stream. jz then slides against N2, jr following the line 3-4IV. Atthe end of the stroke, the foot p is again at IV, IV indicating in factany position in the pit G, and the dashboard is down. It has thus beenpossible to pass directly from position III to position IV.

Or else the flashboard is taken to the position II or I and continued tobe drawn up-stream. The foot 1, guided by S6 and S8 then compulsorilyforks N1, ji being able to pass, due to the slope S'z (track 35II). Ifit is not desired to stop the dashboard at II and it is continued to bedrawn, 1), still straddling N1 passes d2, then reaches d1 (trackII-6--I).

If the dashboard is drawn tip-stream from the position I, '1 comes intocontact with S1. This surface being very sloping, i1 skids to the rightand arrives at the passage position 0 (track I8-0).

At 0, there is a fresh option:

Either it is desired to go to IV and the flashboard continues to bedrawn up-stream. Then jz guided by S3 leads 2 to S2, or its rises, thenfalls on the floor to the left of Tm and arrives at the passage position(it) (track 0-1G--00). The fiashboard then being released down-stream,the foot 1 descends in the direction of the current, the cheek i2bearing, if possible, on Si, then on the vertical walls of S2 and S1,and on the left part of N1 (track 00--111'213).

When '2 comes against the vertical wall of S7, the foot p is shifted tothe left, this movement being accentuated by the guiding surface 55.Thanks to this surface, p passes to the left of 3 (track ll41516), thenfinally falls into the pit G, thus returning to IV (track 17IV). Thus,it has been possible to pass from position I to position IV.

Or else, if it is desired to go directly from I to III, the foot p beingalways presumed at ti, on leaving the position I, the flashboard isallowed to lean down-stream p then descends in the direction of thecurrent, '1 hearing on the right part of N1 (track 9-18-19).

When i is at 19, is comes into contact with S5 which plays the part ofguide concurrently with the terminal part of N1 and conducts the notch eof ,0 right opposite S8. The foot 12 then forks 88 (track i92tl and Fig-8a). 1 rises little by little, while f2 comes into contact with S9 (Fig.81)). At this moment, 7 distinctly dominates the part of the rib N2situated upstream from d3. S9 then moves ]'2 and consequently p to theleft until 0 is above N2. Then 1'2, comes into contact with Sin with isat a steep slope (Fig. As at this time p does not fork Se any more, fromwhich it has just escaped, jz skids and p straddles N2, slightlyupstream from Q's. These operations take place on the track 2t3211iI.

The arrangement adopted for the various guiding surfaces encountered hasthus made it possible to pass from position I to position iII (bypassing through ti).

It will also be noticed that, in the present invention, and for at leasta part of the rack (for the Tm section in the example described) thefoot p can move according to the case, on the right or on the left ofN1. The right side and the left side communicate through the space isituated between the two sections Tm and Tv. The right way correspondsto the descent to position III, whereas the left way enables the directdescent from the stopping position I to position IV (through theintermediary of the passage position (iii), or from position Iii toposition IV.

It is clear from the above specification that the guiding surfaces areall made of elements of planes, vertical or not, and inclined withrespect to the rack, said ele ments being placed on one side of the rackor on the other side, part of these planes being connected to the other,and eventually connected to the rack, said planes ensuring according tothe case, the change of direction of the foot p, and/or its motion up-ordown, by resting or skidding.

In addition to the manoeuvering facilities which have been referred to,the slide in accordance with the invention, also possesses the followingadvantage:

By comparing this slide with that shown in Fig. 1, we see that thelongitudinal guiding cheek along the slide 3 is eliminated.

This suppression is important. For in the case of the prior system ofFig. 1, if the foot ,0 has jumped out of the trough (due to the lateralimpact from pieces of wood carried along the water), the foot cannotreach the pit G, when the flashboard is lowered. If the foot 2 is not inG, when the flashboard is lying it means that it is impossible for it,to fork the rack, when the fiashboard is being raised, and thereforecannot engage with one of the teeth d1, 112 and ds.

In that case, the help of a diver, may be necessary to put back the footinto the correct position.

With the new slide, the foot always reaches the pit G, when theflashboard is lowered. A precise location in this pit is withoutsignificance, for it is in any cases, the leaving position IV in Fig. 7.

The slide in accordance with the invention therefore aifords greatsafety when employed.

It is obvious that the invention is not restricted to the exampledescribed and that all kinds of modifications can be applied to thevarious guiding surfaces, as regards their number, their shape andarrangement, without going outside the scope of the present invention.

In particular, it would be possible, by employing more complicatedshapes, but keeping to the combination of inclined planes described abrve, to perform the following direct passages, in addition to the twodirect passages from III to IV and I to III:

From I to II, which would necessitate, up-stream from I, the utilisingof a new passage position which be added to the positions {I and 00mentioned above.

From II to III, which would lead to interrupting the rack between II andI, as occurs between III and II, in accordance with the aforementioneddescription.

However, the last two passages would not, in a general way, be of muchinterest on Aubert fiashboard dams, so that the corresponding increasein the price of the slide would not be warranted.

I claim:

1. A darn fiashboard controlling slide comprising a strut pivotallyconnected at one end to the down-stream side of said fiashboard upon ahorizontal axis and with lateral play therebetween, a foot carried bythe other end of said strut, a rack having at least two spaced apartsections for at times guiding the foot of said strut during the pivotingof said fiashboard with both sections extending substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of pivoting of said strut, each section ofsaid rack having at least one tooth provided thereon for at timesreceiving and retaining the foot of said strut against down-streammovement, the up-stream section of said rack having a verticallyinclined profile portion for laterally displacing the foot of saidstrut, when slid therealong, from said rack, means provided with saidrack for guiding said foot across said tip-stream section when sodisplaced therefrom upon tip-stream movement of said foot, thedown-stream section of said rack having profile portions inclinedvertically and longitudinally of said rack for directing the elevationand lateral displacement of said strut foot onto said down-streamsection upon being slid therealong when displaced from said up-strearnrack section, and guiding means for directing said strut foot towardsthe ends of said rack sections when displaced there from upon movementof said foot longitudinally of said rack.

2. A dam flashboard controlling slide as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid rack sections consist of a pair of vertical ribs having downwardlycurved end portions for guiding said strut foot thereon upon up-strearnmovement of said foot, said ribs being spaced apart providing apassageway for said foot, said guiding means including vertical ribsextending on acute angles relative to said rack sections for guidingsaid strut foot from one rack section to the other rack section whendisplaced from said rack.

3. A dam fiashboard controlling slide as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid down-stream section profiled portions include a downwardly curvedrib-shaped portion extending up-stream between said up-stream sectionand a portion of said guiding means, a lateral portion having dihedralsurfaces one sloping up-stream and the other towards its rib and adihedral passageway provided between said section and its rib and saidfirst mentioned dihedral surfaces whereby said strut foot is guided ontosaid down-stream section upon down-stream movement of said foot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS225,533 Pasqueau Mar. 16, 1880 1,624,571 Aubert Apr. 12, 1927 FOREIGNPATENTS 824,041 France of 1937

